Pacific Islander Archives - Kamalani Hurley

Interview with I am a Bon Dancer author Brandi-Ann Uyemura

April 7, 2026 by Kamalani Hurley

As readers of this blog know, we highlight the talented creators of our AANHPI — Asian American, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander — community.

We are excited that our longtime friend, Brandi-Ann Uyemura, has a new book out this month! A lot has happened since we first featured her in 2022. She recently sat down to talk story and catch us up about her debut picture book, I am a Bon Dancer.

Can you share a bit of your debut picture book, I am a Bon Dancer? Without giving away too much for those who haven’t read it yet, what is it about?

Sure! I am a Bon Dancer is about a little girl who hasn’t been to the Bon dance before, but has heard her grandfather talk about it. His excitement is contagious, and she feels excited, too, until she gets there and realizes everyone seems to know how to dance. She is afraid to make a mistake in the glow of the lanterns and with everyone looking at her, but she gains courage when she learns the meaning behind the dance.

What inspired you to write the book?

Oh this has been in my mind for a very long time. I used to go to Obon with my grandfather on the island of Kauaʻi as a kid. He loved to go, and I remember how excited he would get on that day. He would whistle as he got dressed. He had this hair oil that he would use to pat down the few hairs on his balding head. He was so cute.

He had a station wagon and he would take my cousins and me early. My grandma would be there helping in the kitchen. It was something we all looked forward to. And all the details from the lanterns, the ono food, and my grandfather’s joy stayed with me all these years and inspired me to write this book.

Such sweet memories! What characteristics do you love best about the young protagonist? About Grandpa Jo? Are they modeled after specific people?

I love that she is afraid and yet still tries to dance. I was also scared to dance, so I sat on the bench and watched my grandpa dance. She is who I wish I was as a kid. Grandpa Jo is based on my grandpa Wakamatsu. I was really close to him. Having said that, while the characters were created because of my relationship with my grandparents, they are very different from real life. My grandpa worked in the sugar cane fields, for example, not my grandmother.

What was your favorite part of writing your book?

I love writing, and I love coming up with the sensory details of Bon Odori itself. I also loved working with Watercress author Andrea Wang. That part was so inspiring and really pushed me to be a better writer. I learned so much from Andrea and am forever grateful for her mentoring me. She was super generous with her time in helping me get my manuscript in the best shape possible.

How lucky to have Andrea as your mentor! The illustrations are wonderful. What was it like working with Amy Matsushita-Beal?

Thank you! I agree. The closest I got to working with Amy was just suggesting the type of illustrations I was looking for.

I never actually had a chance to work with them directly, but it was one of the highlights of my year to visit Amy in Japan. She is multi-talented and extremely creative. During our meeting, we got to talk about the process. I learned, for example, that the main character was inspired by a TV character and that there were suggestions in one of the drafts that were never used. I didn’t realize how fun it would be to talk to the illustrator, and I am so glad I got a chance to!

I love the book’s back matter. How do you hope this additional content influences the reader’s experience of the book?

Thank you, Kamalani! That means a lot to me because Kaho’olawe: The True Story of an Island and Her People was such a powerhouse of information. I hope that my readers will understand the significance of obon with that level of awareness and understanding.

But I also want readers to know that while the Bon dance has religious roots, today’s Bon dance is more about community and spending time with those you love.

In terms of the reader’s experience with the book, I hope that reading it will help them gain a deeper emotional understanding of why dancing is so important to the characters in the book and to appreciate the people behind some of the movements. While they appear simple, the hand movements often convey history, hard work, and real-life sacrifice for the Japanese people.

That’s fascinating! What do you hope teachers or librarians do with your book?

I just hope they share it! I gave a presentation once for an online class I took with author Marcie Colleen on “Windows and Mirrors.” I really hope librarians and teachers know how much I appreciate what they do, how important their roles are, and what a gift they can give children in providing both windows for children to learn about a new culture or learning something new about the Bon dance, but also mirrors for kids who want to see themselves in a book.

Mirrors and windows — what a terrific concept! What do you hope young readers will take away from your book? That is, what is the main message or feeling you hope kids get from this book?

I hope they will see themselves in it. I hope they will feel inspired and encouraged to do something that scares them and feel brave because of their own ancestors and the struggles they have been through.

Can you share a bit about what you’re working on next?

I am working on multiple manuscripts. Some about my culture. Other zany ones are about animals and dragons. I am also continuing to work on my middle-grade mystery about chocolate, which now has ghosts in it. The market keeps changing, and I like to write different things. The tricky part is finding a publishing home for them!

Mystery about chocolate and ghosts? I can’t wait for that book! Mahalo for your time and mana’o, Brandi! Visit Brandi at her website, Brandi-Ann Uyemura, and on Istagram at @brandialwayswrites.

Learn about I am a Bon Dancer in our picture book review!

Images courtesy of Brandi-Ann Uyemura

Book Review: I AM A BON DANCER by Brandi-Ann Uyemura

April 7, 2026April 7, 2026 by Kamalani Hurley

Hawai’i is blessed with a diverse population, in large part due to our sugar plantation history. Hard-working people from far away places as China, Portugal, Japan, Puerto Rico, the Korean peninsula, the Philippines, and Russia settled here, raising their families and contributing to what has become our unique local culture.

This is reflected in fifth-generation Japanese American Brandi-Ann Uyemura’s delightful debut picture book, I am a Bon Dancer.

It’s Obon season in Hawaiʻi, and our young protagonist is excited to attending her first festival. Accompanied by her beloved grandfather, Grandpa Jo, the young girl is immediately entranced by the sounds, sights and aromas of the Bon dance. Most of all, she is in awe of the graceful dancers who move together, clapping, sweeping their arms and stepping to the music.

Will she ever learn to dance as beautifully?

What follows is a tale as the little girl learns how Bon dances are connected to her ancestors. I was especially moved by the image of the young dancer with her Grandma Nat, who had worked as a field hand on a sugar plantation. Feeling love and encouragement, the girl gathers her courage, feels the music within her, and begins to dance.

The illustrations by Amy Matsushita-Beal are beautiful. Because Bon dances tend to be held during evening hours, the book’s scenes are saturated with deep blues to represent the evening sky. One of my favorite spreads shows the girl entering the for the first time. We readers share her wonder and excitement — the thumping beats of the drummers, the tall red and white striped tower strung with brightly colored lanterns, the tents beyond that hint of delicious treats.

Although Obon is a Japanese tradition, the illustrations include diverse faces. As a girl, I attended Bon dances with my Japanese language school classmates, so I appreciate that the dancers are an authentically accurate reflection of the open-to-all invitation of the festival.

I love back matter, and the material at the end of the book is very insightful. I particularly loved learning about Hawaiʻi’s Obon traditions and that new songs are created to reflect life here. Festivals welcome everyone in the community to join in. And as a future ancestor — no spoiler here — I admit the last line of the back matter brought me to tears.

As I always try to do with picture book reviews, I read the book aloud to my youngest grandchildren. The book’s words and art kept their attention the whole time, and they even cheered at the very last scene!

My second grader read the book twice in one sitting — always a good sign — and together we looked for videos of Bon dance festivals online. All the grandkids have decided that we are all going to the next Bon dance at the Hongwanji near my house.

That is the best recommendation I think a picture book can have: it engages children and inspires them to learn more about their neighbors — near and far — and their traditions. I am a Bon Dancer is a most worthy addition to your child’s bookshelf.

I am a Bon Dancer
Written by Brandi-Ann Uyemura, illustrated by Amy Matsushita-Beal
Holiday House, 2024
ISBN 978–0823452200
Suggested for ages 4 — 8

Catch up with author Brandi-Ann Uyemura as she shares her process in writing this book!

Please read our disclaimer to learn our book review policy. Mahalo!

Galley review copy and images courtesy of Brandi-Ann Uyemura.

Interview with Native Hawaiian Illustrator Malia Pila

November 23, 2025January 13, 2025 by Kamalani Hurley

I like to think I’m a wordsmith. I can often take an idea and work to find the best words to tell a story I hope my young readers will love.

But a children’s book is way more than words. Beautiful illustrations are key to making well-written stories and turning them into visual magic for young readers.

Talented Native Hawaiian illustrator Malia Pila is one such magician. Her charming, gorgeous images have a cinematic aesthetic that young readers and their grownups love.

We are so pleased to talk story with Malia today.

Aloha e Malia! For those who haven’t met you, could you please tell us a little about yourself?

My name is Malia Pila, and I’m an illustrator working primarily in picture books these days, but I have also worked in visual development for animation! I enjoy exploring different media and styles with my artwork whenever I can as well as researching niche things like historical costuming and the mythology of different cultures.

My biggest supporter for nearly 15 years now has been my (soon-to-be) husband. My career path has not been very clear or linear and even when I’ve had moments of self-doubt, he has always been at my side to help me back onto my feet and find inspiration again.

Congratulations on your engagement! Where did you grow up?

I grew up in a handful of different places. A large part of my childhood was spent between Hilo where my father is from and Kona, but we eventually moved to the mainland, and I spent my teen years in places like Florida and Arkansas.

What has been your journey to becoming a professional illustrator? Why did you become an illustrator/artist? Have you always wanted to create art?

I have always had a desire to create art, but it took some time to land specifically on “professional illustrator.” My older sister introduced me to drawing when I was about 6, and while I’m sure I drew plenty before then, I specifically remember her introduction having a profound impact on me and igniting a spark that has just refused to die down since.

I’ve been lucky that my family has never put down my dreams or insisted I pivot to something else completely. So by the time I made it to university, I had refined an incredibly vague career plan of “ARTIST” into a more specific goal to work in the animation industry. I stuck with that ultimately, but I also found myself exposed to new things that really began to turn my head like illustrating for picture books and studying art history.

After university, I was left in a place I think a lot of fresh graduates are in after art school. There is so much uncertainty in many creative industries, so it can be overwhelming. I’ve tried to just focus on what makes me happy to create and that has really led me to where I am now.

What kinds of illustration work have you done? What do you enjoy most about illustrating, especially for a young audience? What are some of your greatest challenges?

I enjoy illustrating for the sheer enjoyment of creating, to be honest. It is so fun to think of something that perhaps no one has ever thought of before or, alternatively, what many many people have thought of in very different ways, and see it put down on paper or canvas. When it comes to illustrating for a young audience specifically, what I love about it is trying to inspire the same thoughts and feelings I once had as a child looking at artwork in books or rummaging through different covers at the library.

That itself sort of becomes my greatest challenge, too. I want to convey so much with my art sometimes that I have to sit back and pick what to include so as not to overwhelm an individual illustration or muddy a concept and message.

Do you have a favorite medium to work with? Why is that?

I recently picked up gouache painting again, and while I’m still refamiliarizing myself with the medium, I’d say it is becoming a new favorite. For the most part, I’ve worked primarily digitally as an illustrator until recently, and while I love all that digital work offers in the way of flexibility and ease, I really enjoy getting my hands back on something more tactile and messy like paints.

Can you share a bit about what you’re working on now? What’s your inspiration?

Something that has always inspired me is my childhood growing up in Hawaiʻi. I have such fond memories of sitting on my grandpa’s lanai eating manapua, gawking at tide pools, and playing with sleeping grass as a kid. On the flip side, leaving all of that and moving to the mainland was incredibly difficult for me. I’m just starting out with the idea, but I’m hoping to play with it a little and see if these inspirations can come together as either a series of illustrations to speak on these experiences or, who knows, maybe even a picture book!

That sounds so fun! What are your hopes and dreams for the year and beyond in terms of your career and what you do you hope for your career in the future?

I’m starting 2025 with a lot of hopes! I recently signed with an agent so I’m looking forward to debuting on new books and other projects in the new year. My dream for the next year is to build a good foundation for myself as a professional illustrator and past that? I would love to explore the possibility of publishing a book as an author/illustrator myself. To be added alongside other published Pacific Islanders would be such a dream!

What advice would you give an aspiring illustrator?

It is okay to pivot. It is okay to take a break, too! I went through several years of my life when creating art was not a priority for me because I was dealing with some very difficult things. I felt bad about this for a while but honestly, a break was what I needed and I do not feel as if I irrevocably damaged my career by taking one as I eventually came back rested and reenergized and caught right back up to my peers. Sometimes taking a chance to sit back and take in other media can be so helpful when you’ve been creating endlessly for a while and feel burnt out.

What kinds of books do you enjoy reading? Any favorites?

I read a lot of historical fiction and some of my favorite books tend to fall into that category. 2024 was unfortunately a slow reading year for me but one of my favorites that I finished was The God of Endings by Jacqueline Holland.

I’m hoping to read so much more in 2025. Specifically, I want to focus on reading more books by other Pacific Islanders. In the past, I’ve found it a little difficult to track down titles but thanks to resources like Pacific Islanders in Publishing, I have a growing reading list to work through.

What’s your online presence?

My portfolio website is maliapila.com. I’m a little more active these days on Instagram (or I try to be, anyway) and can be found there at maliapila.art. I welcome anyone that wants to chat or connect!

Mahalo nui, Malia, for talking story with us! We’re looking forward to hearing more from you soon! To learn more about Malia and see her wonderful illustrations, visit her website, Malia Pila.com, and follow her on Instagram at maliapila.art. Malia is represented by James McGowan at BookEnds Literary Agency.

Images courtesy of Malia Pila.

Book Review: Tala Learns to Siva

September 16, 2024 by Kamalani Hurley

There’s something magical about children’s books written by Native Hawaiian and Pacific Island authors.

Until recently, stories about our communities told by our people were largely missing in children’s literature. Thankfully, the times are changing, and more voices are emerging to tell our own stories. The best of these narratives sing with heart and authenticity that comes from being rooted in the community.

Tala Learns to Siva is one of those stories. This delightful Pacific Island story by talented author Kealani Netane deserves a space not just on a child’s bookshelf but on school library shelves everywhere.

Young Tala watches her Aunty Siva perform the traditional Samoan taualuga. Captivated by her aunt’s grace and beauty, Tala asks her to teach her to dance in time for her grandmother’s birthday party. But as with most things worth learning, what at first seems easy actually takes work and practice. Will Tala learn to dance in time to share her siva with her grandmother? She decides to do her best.

Like all good stories for children, Tala Learns to Siva resonates with young readers everywhere. They will easily relate to the universal story of the young protagonist’s determination to overcome her doubts and fears. Tala practices everywhere she goes and works hard to master the hand and foot movements. But it’s when Tala understands that the dance connects her to her ancestors that she truly begins to shine.

The illustrations by New York Times bestselling illustrator Dung Ho are colorful and vibrant. The art beautifully invites the reader to become a part of Tala’s island family.

Two spreads are my particular favorites. I love the dance spread on pages 20–21. Both text and art do a wonderful job of capturing Tala’s joy and triumph as she dances the taualuga solo for her family and friends.

And I especially adore the family’s reaction to Tala’s solo on page 22. Growing up in Hawai’i, I’ve attended many Samoan parties and celebrations, and they often end just as page 22 so effectively shows, with elders and others joining in on the fun. This page is my very favorite, I think, because it speaks to me personally, because these folks could be my own friends and neighbors. And isn’t being able to relate to a character or to a piece of art what makes a book special?

The back matter includes a glossary of terms and an author’s note. In it Kealani expresses her love for Samoan dance and traditions that she gratefully passes on to her children.

Tala Learns to Siva is a wonderful introduction to Pacific Island culture and a most worthy addition to any bookshelf.

Tala Learns to Siva
Written by Kealani Netane, illustrated by Dung Ho
Orchard Books, an imprint of Scholastic Books, 2024
ISBN 978–1338859317
Suggested for ages 4 — 8

Meet author Kealani Netane in our talk story interview!

Please read our disclaimer to learn our book review policy. Mahalo!

Galley review copy and images courtesy of Kealani Netane.

Interview with Native Hawaiian Author Kealani Netane

May 14, 2024 by Kamalani Hurley

If you recognize Native Hawaiian/Sāmoan writer Kealani Netane’s name, you’re probably a fan of her popular bookstagram, Little Pasifika Readers. Or you might you recognize her from her thoughtful blog posts at Pacific Islanders in Publishing. Now add children’s book author to her list of professional accomplishments.

Her wonderful debut picture book, TALA LEARNS TO SIVA (Scholastic, 2024) is the sweetest story of a child’s desire to dance the traditional Sāmoan taualuga just as like graceful aunt. Through engaging text and beautiful illustrations by award-winning illustrator Dung Ho, young readers learn, like Tala, that they can do anything with practice and patience.

We are thrilled to talk story with Kealani today.

Aloha mai, Kealani! For those readers who haven’t met you yet, could you please tell us a little about yourself?

Aloha! I’m Kealani Netane. I am the author of TALA LEARNS TO SIVA, published by Scholastic. I am Hawaiian and Samoan. My dad is from ʻUpolu, Sāmoa, and my mom is from Waialua, Oʻahu and Honokaʻa, Hawaiʻi. I currently stay home with my three kids though I previously worked in education.

My biggest supporter is my husband, Xavier. He is my first critique partner and my last before I send a manuscript to my agent. He’s not a reader or a writer, but he is Samoan/Tongan so his cultural perspective is really helpful.We live in Kapolei, Hawaiʻi.

Where did you grow up? What high school did you grad from?

I was raised in Kailua, Oʻahu until my tween years when we moved to Kapolei. I graduated from Kamehameha-Kapālama in 2008.

Congratulations on your debut picture book! There are not a lot of books for kids by Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander writers. Why do you think that is? What do you think we can do the change that?

Thank you! My grandma was a great storyteller. We would holoholo around the island and she’d tell fantastic stories about every area, but she was rarely interested in writing those stories down. For most of our culture’s existence, there wasn’t a need for books because we passed things down orally. As our world changed, books became more important. Now there is a need for children’s books by Pacific Islander writers. There are many efforts by local organizations to create books for our children, and there is a small but growing community of Pacific Islanders in U.S. traditional publishing. Even with all the current work being done, there is room for much more.

The CCBC found that only .002% of the books published in 2021 that they received were by Pacific Islanders (Link). That number doesn’t include the books published locally, only nationally. My biggest goal for my writing and my social media is for our children to have accessible books that mirror their life. Dr. Rudine Sims Bishop stated, “When children cannot find themselves in the books they read…they learn a powerful lesson about how they are devalued in the society of which they are a part” (Link). In order for there to be more books by, about, and for Pacific Islander children, there needs to be more Pacific Islanders in every sector of the publishing world. We should all be helping to lift and build others up to ensure that our children have access to our stories.

I’m really excited about the growing number of Māori and Pasifika authors in Aotearoa. The work they are doing there is truly inspiring. I’m hoping there will be more upcoming Pacific Islander authors in the U.S., especially those of Micronesian and Melanesian descent. Many people have reached out to me asking specifically for books from those communities. We definitely need more books for all of Oceania.

We agree! So what inspired you to choose Sāmoan dance for your debut novel?

I am a dancer. I grew up dancing hula, but I always loved watching older girls dance the taualuga. I thought they were the most beautiful and graceful dancers. As I grew older, I learned how to dance the Samoan siva and slowly came to understand the meaning behind the dance. In some ways, this picture book is a reflection of my own life. And in other ways, it’s reflective of how I want to pass on this traditional knowledge to my own children.

What beliefs are your work challenging?

TALA LEARNS TO SIVA is challenging the belief some people that Polynesian dances are purely for their entertainment. I do want to push back on the tourist-centric ideas people have about our islands and cultures. I want our children to see that their culture is for them first.

You also run a popular bookstagram. When did you start Little Pasifika Readers and why? What are your goals? What inspires you to write your posts and articles?

I started my bookstagram, Little Pasifika Readers, in early 2021. When I started writing in 2020, I collected resources on Pacific Islander children’s literature. It was difficult to find books, and I imagined others also had a hard time, so I created an avenue to share those resources. I was already following a few other Pasifika bookstagrams and found a community with them when I created my own.

My prevailing requirement for posting a book is that the book has to be written or illustrated by a Pacific Islander. There are many books about us, but not as many books by us. My next requirement is that the book has to be accessible, meaning the book either needs to be available at public libraries or there needs to be a website where people can easily purchase the book.

What are your hopes and dreams for the year and beyond in terms of your social media/writing career and what you would like to see published in the future?

I have so many book and career ideas that I don’t have the time to do all of them, so I have to pick and choose which projects I want to take on. My bookstagram account is something fun that I do on the side, and my focus with that is to continue to share resources for people to find Pacific Islander authored children’s books. I don’t keep up with it as much as I’d like because my focus is more on Pacific Islanders in Publishing and the work I do with Keala Kendall and Manuia Henrich. We are working on creating development opportunities for Pacific Islander writers and continuing to share new book releases.

For my writing, I hope to finish the edits of a picture book I’m working on, and then I hope to keep working on my middle grade and young adult projects. I don’t know if I’ll finish those projects this year, but hopefully they will be ready for submission in the next couple of years. I also have other picture book ideas lingering on my computer that I’m unsure about, but I hope to find ways for them to work.

As for projects outside of my own, I’d love to see more Pacific Islander authored books in all genres, especially adult romance and contemporary middle grade and young adult.

Can you share a bit about what youʻre working on next?

I have another picture book project that I’m looking forward to announcing soon. I am also working on a middle grade novel and a young adult novel. Both of those projects are still in the early phases, so it’ll be many years before they will be ready for publication.

What do you enjoy most about writing, especially for kids? What are some of your greatest challenges?

What I love most about writing for kids is that kids are very glued into the specifics. When writing, I have to look at things from the mind of a child and children notice everything so I have to notice everything. Children are fascinated by the things adults often take for granted, so writing children’s books helps me slow down and appreciate life a bit more.

The greatest challenge when writing picture books is being able to tell an entire story arc in very little words. We also have to leave space for the illustrator to tell their story. So it’s a balancing act.

What kinds of books do you enjoy reading? Any favorites?

I love all kinds of books. I read across age groups and genres. There are a bunch of books I’ve recently read and enjoyed. In the picture book category, I loved Finding Papa by Angela Pham Krans and We Who Produce Pearls: An Anthem for Asian America by Joanna Ho. I really enjoyed the middle grade novel, Mani Semilla Finds Her Quetzal Voice by Anna Lapera. I felt like a proud aunty reading Mani’s feminism journey. My favorite young adult book so far this year is Dragonfruit by Makiia Lucier. The story is so heartwarming and adventurous.

In the adult category, I love reading romance and genre fiction. My favorite romance authors right now are Kennedy Ryan and Tia Williams. My favorite genre fiction book is Evil Eye by Etaf Rum.

I also love non-fiction books, especially books focused on Indigenous knowledge like Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer and social justice like Angela Davis’ Freedom is a Constant Struggle. I’ve been getting into more historical books, and I learned so much from Aloha, Betrayed by Noenoe Silva and The Hundred Year Walk: An Armenian Odyssey by Dawn Anahid MacKeen. I’ve also been slowly reading more poetry books, and my favorite right now is ‘Āina Hānau/Birth Land by Brandy Nālani McDougall. I truly feel seen by her poems.

As you can probably tell, I love reading, and I try to read as much as I can although I don’t nearly have enough time to do so. I do keep a running list on my phone of books I want to read.

What advice would you give an aspiring author/blogger?

My advice for aspiring writers is to observe, learn, write, edit, seek feedback, and edit more. Observe yourself. Observe those around you. Learn from our chants, songs, legends. Learn from your own family history. Learn from what has already been written. Learn from other writers. Then, write. There’s only so much we can do in our heads. As the ʻōlelo noʻeau tells us, ma ka hana ka ʻike. We learn best when we actually write. Next, find a writing community. They will help with feedback. And edit, edit, edit. Once everything is ready, either self-publish or query agents/publishers. Also, you don’t have to write something cultural. Write whatever you want.

Are you active on social media? How can readers find out more about you and your work?

My website is kealaninetane.com. I also write the blog posts for Pacific Islanders in Publishing. Our blog posts are focused on showcasing the latest published books by Pacific Islanders and helping Pacific Islanders navigate the publishing industry.

Mahalo nui, Kealani, for sharing your manaʻo with us and for the good work you’re going to encourage more Pacific Islander creators. We look forward to seeing more from you! To learn more about Kealani Netane, please visit her website, Kealani Netane.com, her blog posts at Pacific Islanders in Publishing, and her bookstagram, Little Pasifika Readers.

Images courtesy of Kealani Netane.